I'm thrilled to have my site back up finally after being down for over a month. Stupid hackers.
Hackers suck.
A lot has happened in the last few weeks.
I flew out to Phoenix and drove Kaylie (and her fish Norton) home from college.
Jessen turned 18 and graduated from high school.
I went to Jessen's college orientation at Miami with him.
I've moved.
I LOVE my new house and my neighborhood.
I especially love all the countless meals and beers and visits with friends.
I went out last weekend with two of my oldest, dearest, bestest, friends and drank gallons of Oberon and ate baskets of deep fried mushrooms and slow danced to Ryan Adams songs being played by a random guy with a guitar at the Grand Haven Eagles.
I've seen several people on Facebook post the following as their status recently:
Dear Lord, this year you took my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze. You took my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett. You took my favorite singer, Michael Jackson. I just wanted to let you know, my favorite president is Barack Obama. Amen.
Wow.
I get the joke in it. That's not my issue. And it's not even the issue for me that it's referencing President Obama. My point of contention is that this is being posted by self proclaimed "evangelical christians." I seriously could not be more shocked by the people who have posted this.
Even worse is this one I saw on a bumper sticker:
Pray for President Obama: Psalm 109:8
So, what's wrong with that, you ask? It says to pray for him. That seems harmless enough.
But then a further look:
"May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children be wandering beggars! May they be driven from their ruined homes..." - Psalm 109:8-9
Wow.
How can anyone, who calls themselves a disciple of Christ, wish that kind of sadness on anyone? Even worse their children?
It doesn't seem so funny now. Does it?
You can disagree with Obama's politics but if we are true followers of Christ, then shouldn't we be praying for God's guidance in his leadership of this country and it's citizens?
I don't agree with a lot of the decisions the president is making. You might not either. You might think he is a neo-socialist or a crazed communist. What he really is though, is a man. A father. A husband. A friend. He deserves the same forgiveness and compassion that we, as christians, show to anyone else.
Heavenly Father, please watch over President Obama and our elected leaders. Please guide them to do Your will. Please help them as they make difficult decisions that affect so very many. Please provide them strength and resolve when they are overwhelmed or unsure. Allow them nights of restful sleep, so that they awake, prepared for each day and the challenges that are sure to come. Provide them with good health and family and friends to support and love them. Lord, stay close by his side so that he trusts you are always there. Remind our leaders, as you remind us, that we are all equal in the eyes of God. All children of the one Father. Please forgive us all for our transgressions. Please keep in our hearts at all times to live a life that is truly for You. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
Good Gravy, I haven't updated this thing in forever.
It's mostly because I've been all over the place....let's see...
I took the kids to Washington DC for spring break - awesome as always and we toured the Capitol!!!!
I've made so many trips back and forth to Michigan that I can't even keep count. I've been to two Wings home games and got to take the boys to their first!!!!
This is just the start too - So much is going on and so much is queued up to be going on in the next few weeks that it's already taking my breath away. I'm going to the Kentucky Derby!!!! Jessen has the prom! I have to fly out to Phoenix and get Kaylie from school and drive back to Ohio with her and her stuff! Jessen's 18th birthday! Jessen's graduation! Jessen's open house!
and then....the BIG MOVE.
Oh, and did I mention that I bought a house a couple of days ago???
At least that one is down. It would suck for the movers to show up and for me to have nowhere for them to take our stuff.
Now only, a billion things left to tackle.
I am overwhelmed and exhausted but somehow...it's ALL HAPPENING.
I have a long-winded rant brewing in me about the healthcare bill passing. Unfortunately, work is keeping me from expanding my thoughts so I will have to wait until later.
What I will say now is, I'm not happy.
It is important to remember that the end doesn't justify the means. They should have learned this from Nixon.
I'm not happy with either side of the aisle. Democrats were hell bent on shoving this legislation down American's throats regardless of whether or not it was the right thing and welcomed by it's citizens. Healthcare reform needed to happen but it sure as hell didn't need to happen like this.
Then there are the Republicans. What a bunch of hypocrites! Here they are crying out for "fiscal responsibility" yet under the last president (with Republicans in the majority) they cut taxes and didn't fund two wars?
I'm so fed up with Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Rove, Palin, Romney, the Tea Party and ESPECIALLY the jackass American citizens on Facebook, in my office, those posting comments on news sites today, who are acting as if they have some sort of entitlement to bitch about how things turned out. Yet they didn't make one phone call or write one letter or email to their elected representatives expressing their displeasure with the direction our country is being led.
In the last 36 hours: I have driven to Michigan and back, eaten deep fried mushrooms, had Bell's Two Hearted ale on tap and watched the Red Wings play at Joe Louis area from 11 rows above center ice.
I love you, Michigan.
(Even if the Wings lost and I was VERY pissed...but just for a minute.)
Also, remind me to tell you sometime about how I almost ran out of gas in downtown Detroit by myself, without a GPS, while I was searching for a gas station and finally found one in the 'Hood. Great story!
I went to see Lucero at the Southgate House this past Friday night.
I have to say that this was probably one of the best live shows I've ever attended. The opening band, Glossary was also AMAZING and they certainly can add me as a new fan.
The Southgate House is just a fantastic venue, historically, acoustically and mostly with how close and intimate you are with the bands. I've seen some great shows there, including the Drive By Truckers and Robert Earl Keen. I'm grateful to have a venue nearby that brings in such amazing music.
Saturday Bennett and I went to see "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief". I haven't read the books so I found it entertaining but Bennett and his friend were both disappointed as I guess it doesn't follow the book very closely. I think these film directors don't give kids nowadays enough credit.
I finished out the weekend on a mellow note. Bennett attended a birthday party/sleepover last night and Jessen is still in Hawaii (he comes home today) so I actually had the house to myself last night. It being Valentine's Day and all, and me not having a current love interest, I decided to treat myself. Lilies, Oberon, and carrot cake...these are a few of my favorite things...
I finally got to watch the movie "The Hangover". I think I was probably the only person on the planet who had not seen it! It was ok...not gut busting funny or anything but I did laugh out loud a few times.
This week is ramping up to be pretty busy. Cincy is getting more snow today which will make the world stop here (glad I bought milk yesterday). I'm supposed to be in Michigan on Wednesday for meetings and then Columbus on Thursday so hopefully the weather cooperates.
Martha Coakley assumed the seat would be hers before Kennedy even passed. She sat back and did nothing until the polls showed that Brown's grass roots had been well fertilized. She did not engage the public, she did not talk to reporters.
This was Martha's race to lose, and she did.
I'm relieved that Coakley didn't win. She wasn't the right person for the job (not that I entirely agree that Brown is either). I'm laughing at the blame game and Spin going on this morning. Fox news, of course, is taking the stance that this is a clear reflection of Obama and his poor public rating. Maybe, but I don't quite see it as so cut and dry. I'm not happy with the President but I grow tired of hearing conservatives bitch about spending yet they have nothing to offer as a better solution. Call me old fashioned, but my Dad taught me that it does nothing more than make you look like an ass if you complain about a situation but don't offer any alternative solution to make it better.
What this really comes down to for me is health care reform. I think Brown's win will put a hault to the propaganda the democrats are trying to railroad through congress under the guise of health care reform. I am a huge proponent for reform but late night backroom deals and sneaky wording to promote other agendas is insulting to me and to this country. Let's see real health care reform that the country can stand behind and that truly serves our citizens. Let's call on our elected leaders to listen to us and remind that them that they were elected to serve by the people and for the people.
So, I kind of skipped out on adding my resolutions for 2010 when giving my year-end wrap-up in the previous post. It was, in fact, intentional. I've been giving a lot of thought to what I'd like to accomplish in 2010 and I didn't want to just go publish something all half-assed...well, even whole-assed for that matter. I mean, publishing these things to a blog kind of puts some pressure and responsibility on me to actually achieve them.
So, better late than never, here they are:
1) Achieve more items on my life list!!!!! This was my number 1 last year also but this is a big one for me. It is my constant reminder to live juicy!
2) Own my own business. This one is huge but I've spent the last few months paving the way for it to happen and I desperately need to see it through. Come on Universe!!!!
3) See more live music. I already have two shows I plan on hitting up in February - Lucero on 2/12 and Robert Earl Keen on 2/13....this will inevitably be a fantastic weekend.
4) Attend church more regularly and focus more on my spiritual enlightenment. Joining a small group, studying the bible, etc.
5) Be more organized. That means cleaning out my purse, managing my schedule better, everything at home has a place.
6) Read 20 books this year. I know that 20 doesn't seem like much but when I think about how busy we usually are, it seems like a realistic and attainable number. I'd love to exceed it!
7) Take an amazing trip with my kids. Not sure where yet.
8) Take a girls weekend trip. Again, not sure where yet.
9) Get myself in the best physical shape I've been in since....forever.
2009 has held a lot of ups and downs for me. This was sort of a strange year, because my whole life changed, and that was weird getting used to but yet very satisfying. But I’m figuring it out as I go, and I’m very thankful to be able to say that overall, I like my life. That hasn’t always been the case.
I was looking back over my resolutions and reflecting on all that this year has been. I got off to a bit of a slow start but when I wrap it up in my mind, I realize that I've accomplished more than I think I have ever resolved to do in the past. I was able to complete some items on my life list - most notably seeing U2 in concert. I have made great strides in taking much better care of myself...I'm eating better, taking vitamins, exercising more and taking more time for myself. Sleep is still a bit of a struggle for me but I'm working on it. I am definitely less cynical but the happiness part has been a little wavering. The cursing less didn't happen and the PMP certification didn't either . I did go to church more and did wear more dresses, but did neither nearly as often as I could or should. I still struggle with the blogging but I've decided that I'm just not going to worry about it anymore.
I also fell in love this year. And I somehow managed to get my heart broken too. Since my heart is still very much wrapped up in it, I think I will just leave it at that.
I listened to a lot of great music this year. I saw Neko Case live twice. I took several weekend trips back to Michigan and a few trips to Arizona. I rekindled some friendships with life-long friends, read a lot of books, and I realized a life dream and have started to take action on making it happen. I also somehow managed to survive my daughter graduating from high school and going to Phoenix for her first year of college.
I started thinking about what I want 2010 to look like and I can see that I will carry over a lot of my resolutions from this past year. I am living more deliberately now than I ever have before. I am awed by the quantity of good, amazing people I have been blessed with in my life and the way in which the universe moves itself to help even little ole me. I hope to stifle the control freak in me in an effort to humble myself to that power and perhaps I'll eventually be able to let myself stop and be happy a bit more often.
Tomorrow I will be heading up to Michigan to ring in the NewYear, drink lots of Oberon, and spend some quality time with friends.
I was in Tempe visiting Kaylie at her dorm. I could see myself walking downtown. I recall passing a homeless-type guy who was sitting in a lawn chair giving tourists directions. Because there are apparently a lot of tourists in Tempe???
Anyway, as I was walking into her dorm (which looked nothing like her dorm) I saw two, small, black, kittens near the doorway. They were in really bad shape - nearly starved and flea infested. So I stayed at Kaylie's dorm while she went to class and I bought a huge bag of cat food. I took two pie tins and filled one with water and put food in the other. Then I went outside and got the kittens and bathed them in the sink. They were a mess and in a lot of pain with sores all over them from the fleas. I towel dried them and fed them a bowl of milk.
Kaylie isn't allowed to have pets in her dorm with the exception of fish. She currently has a betta fish named Norton. Norton has actually been on my mind the last couple of days because Kaylie is coming home for a month and she's trying to find someone to care for him while she's gone. I thought about having her bring him on the plane but then it occurred to me that he would surpass the 3oz liquid limit in the container Kaylie would bring him in. So, everyone sleep better tonight knowing that air travel is much safer without bombs and Betta fish on board.
Ahhh, I digress.
So back to the kittens. I cleaned them up and filled their bellies and had to take them outside. I charged Kaylie and some of the other girls on her floor with rotating leaving them food outside. I found a milk crate and turned it on its side and put an old towel inside and stuck it behind the bushes outside the dorm. I put flea collars on the kittens and put them in the crate with food and water nearby. I think they were ok but I recall being terrified they would be eaten by coyotes.
